Lawmakers to phase in increased classroom time

Campbell High School teacher Mark Buelow works with students in a freshman science class at Campbell High School. Lawmakers agreed to a compromise proposal to increase the amount of time public school students spend in the classroom.

Hawaii lawmakers are agreeing to a compromise that allows high schools three more years to increase student class time, but half of elementary schools would have to teach a minimum number of hours starting next school year.

A conference committee of House and Senate legislators voted 8-0 today to approve the bill, sending it to final votes in each chamber next week.

The legislation delays a law passed last year meant to boost the amount of instructional time children receive each day.

Teachers and their labor union complained that they shouldn’t be required to do more work without more pay, which the Department of Education estimated would cost $55 million a year.

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